Completely happy New Yr, everybody!
There are 58 days till the inexperienced flag waves for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to formally begin the 2026 season for the IndyCar Collection.
With the anticipation constructing with each ticking day till that time, it made me assume over the totally different storylines that might merely be hellaciously enjoyable. So, as an alternative of predictions and making an attempt to be a failed fortune teller, I made a decision on arising with a wishlist because the clock struck midnight.
Right here we go.
Starting with the No. 26 in 2026
The ‘New Yr, New Me’ slogan has in all probability by no means felt extra correct for any driver prefer it does for Will Energy, who takes over Andretti International’s No. 26 Honda entry from F1 dream chaser Colton Herta.
The 44-year-old Energy has an IndyCar report 71 poles, however none on the Indianapolis 500. It truly is the one factor left to perform in his legendary profession. To go a step additional, it will be fairly exceptional if he achieved that feat by outdueling former Group Penske teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, alongside together with his alternative, David Malukas, too.
Whereas we’re with reference to Energy, we must always lastly get that long-awaited and forever-anticipated head-to-head struggle with Scott Dixon. There is no such thing as a mistaking they’re two titans of the game, however in some way they’ve by no means actually been in a correct struggle for a win. Merely put, we want it.
A Correct Chase for No. 7
Talking of Dixon, who’s now formally racing royalty, actually, after being knighted by his dwelling nation of New Zealand “for companies to motorsport,” an actual likelihood to be within the struggle for a record-tying seventh championship (to attract stage with A.J. Foyt) can be enjoyable.
It’s definitely not for a scarcity of making an attempt, however ever since Alex Palou came to visit to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 and has received 4 of the final 5 titles, Dixon has ended up fourth (2021), third (2022), second (2023), sixth (2024) and third (2025). For no matter cause, whether or not a pit miscue, making up an excessive amount of floor after a poor qualifying outing, mechanical woes, or just being on the incorrect finish of technique, Dixon hasn’t loved the identical run of fine fortune as his Spanish teammate.
I wish to see the 45-year-old Dixon be within the championship struggle and actually apply strain on Palou. It could be intriguing to see how the group dynamic would evolve with each passing race.
If nothing else, it will be an important reminder to everybody amid this Palou dynasty simply how good Dixon and that No. 9 Honda have been in a profession that’s about to hit the quarter century mark.
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
A Flock of Siegels
Earlier this week, Arrow McLaren Group Principal Tony Kanaan advised Motorsport.com that 21-year-old Nolan Siegel, who’s coming into the final 12 months of a multi-year contract, “wants to complete within the high 10 within the championship and if not, I don’t assume I can preserve him.”
In a sport that’s exceptionally tight, let’s say Siegel’s improvement takes that subsequent step and he hits that efficiency stage and even grabs a podium or two, possibly even a win. It could be an fascinating scenario as the motive force market is anticipated to have some huge names out there, like Newgarden. If the efficiency stage raises for Siegel, in some ways, he would have pulled issues in his favor to have extra choices for 2027 and add to the drama of what has already been created.
Siegel, a 24 Hours of Le Mans winner within the LMP2 class in 2024, has the highlight – and strain – firmly on him. Seeing him rise to the event, now that might shut lots of people up.
First Timers and Drought Breakers
There was one first-time winner over the previous two seasons, which was Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen’s stirring late cost final 12 months at Milwaukee to beat Palou.
The stout rookies coming into North America’s premier open-wheel championship, resembling Caio Collet and reigning Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger, would convey an unimaginable second if both or each attain Victory Lane, specifically additionally for the groups they drive for in AJ Foyt Racing and Dale Coyne Racing, respectively. And don’t neglect about Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time Method 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher who made 43 begins himself in F1, at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL). Think about the scenes if Mick waxed the sector on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway street course, a spot his father received 5 instances.
Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
However then there’s additionally a couple of drivers which have been shut however not but in a position to knock the door down for that elusive first win and discover themselves in an important scenario to, like Kyffin Simpon at Chip Ganassi Racing, or Malukas at Group Penske, and Santino Ferrucci has been flashing the flexibility to drag an upset with AJ Foyt Racing for a couple of seasons now. RLL’s Louis Foster additionally confirmed flashes of tempo together with his pole at Street America a 12 months in the past, and charging capacity in numerous races. Add Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong to this record, too, after his high eight championship end in 2025.
And on the facet of former winners that haven’t tasted the champagne on the highest step of the rostrum (or milk, at one explicit race), it’s led by Graham Rahal, who final received in 2017 (Detroit). Alexander Rossi can be on the record, having not received since 2022 (IMS street course). Felix Rosenqvist has been shut on a number of events however has but to match his lone win from 2020 (Street America). Lastly, Marcus Ericsson is one other that involves thoughts, together with his final win being the season-opening spherical in 2023 at St. Petersburg.
With a calendar that’s 17 races lengthy, it will be good to have a number of drivers bag maiden victories, but additionally see a pair finish their respective droughts.
The Golden Goose
The discuss of a 3rd producer has gone on for properly over a decade and is on the level the golden goose has been burnt to a crisp within the oven.
However for the sake of this being a wishlist, let’s assume the main overhaul IndyCar has deliberate for 2028, specifically a brand new chassis with a 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, really resurrects the golden goose from the ashes and we get a 3rd OEM. And with that serving to not stretch assets to an absurd stage, Honda decides to remain within the sport.
I’ll allow you to entertain who can be probably the most gratifying producer to rival Chevrolet and Honda, however definitely there can be a couple of.
Jacob Abel, Dale Coyne Racing
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
Beer Me
It was one thing majestic to see the Miller Excessive Life colours on an Indy automobile final 12 months courtesy of Jacob Abel and Dale Coyne Racing.
We want extra of it.
Truthfully, how cool would it not be if Rahal was supported by Miller Lite? Even when it occurred for one or a couple of races in the identical livery his father ran throughout his remaining seasons as a driver again in 1997-98. Hell, go break that drought, Graham, and let Miller Lite fall from the heavens like rain within the Amazon.
Degree Up
There is no such thing as a denying how large FOX Sports activities has been to IndyCar, particularly now having partial possession of the sequence.
All 17 races had been on community tv and noticed a median of 1,362,000 viewers, in line with Nielsen Media Analysis, making it the most-watched season in 17 years. It was large development in comparison with 2024 when races had been seen on quite a lot of NBC’s household of networks.
And this 12 months, with the spherical at Nashville following the ultimate of the FIFA World Cup on July 19, there’s an opportunity to seize thousands and thousands of people that depart their televisions on FOX after the sport.
It could be extraordinary on so many ranges if this easy scheduling catapults curiosity for the remainder of the 12 months, particularly if there’s an in depth title struggle within the works, too. The probabilities might be limitless if viewership rises, not solely in sponsorship curiosity, however possibly even bolstering the schedule for the longer term. Oh, and it definitely couldn’t damage the possibilities of that elusive third OEM.
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
Mexico
Whereas a race in Mexico for this 12 months received’t occur, one for the longer term might nonetheless be finalized. I’m undecided anybody wished to commerce Markham for Toronto when going to Canada, however at the least IndyCar’s management discovered a technique to preserve the game in The Land of Maple.
By now, everybody is aware of Pato O’Ward, a local of Mexico, is – by a large margin – IndyCar’s hottest driver. And the fanbase is salivating over an opportunity to have extra races past the borders of america. The fixed talks of being on the precipice of getting a race in Argentina, Brazil or some other place is as tiring because the third OEM search.
So, my final want is that IndyCar – and FOX – lastly make it occur and work by way of the politics and monetary logistics with the promoters to take the sequence again to Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
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